Darwin Startups
Florianópolis-based accelerator and investor for early-stage startups, mainly in Brazil and Latin America, with women-founder, Black-founder and AI programmes.
Darwin Startups at a glance
| Established | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Address | SC-401, Km 04, s/n, Saco Grande, Florianópolis/SC, Brazil |
| Programmes | 7 standing programmes |
| Stages supported | Idea, Prototype, Growth |
| Fees | 1 of 2 programmes that state a policy are free |
| Equity | 1 of 2 programmes that state a policy take no equity |
| Official website | www.darwinstartups.com |
| ola@darwinstartups.com |
Which Darwin Startups programme fits you
7 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
By stage
- Idea
- Ginga Afrotech Hub
- Prototype
- Ginga Afrotech Hub
- Growth
- Darwin Scale, Ginga Afrotech Hub
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batch #15 acceleration programme | Early-stage startups with a full-time founder | — | 12 weeks, from January 2027 | — | Takes equity |
| Darwin Scale | Structured, fast-growing startups | Growth | 14 weeks | Online | Paid |
| ICM Lab Solana powered by Darwin StartupsWith Solana Foundation, Superteam Brasil | Startups building capital-markets infrastructure or Web3 products | — | — | — | — |
| Ginga Afrotech HubWith Sebrae for Startups (SP) | Startups led by Black entrepreneurs | Idea, Prototype, Growth | — | — | — |
| Emma Project by Darwin StartupsWith Zoho | Women-founded startups from idea to traction | — | 4 weeks | — | Free, no equity |
| Cubo CyberWith Cubo Itaú, Itaú Unibanco | Early-stage cybersecurity and fraud-prevention startups | — | — | — | — |
| IA Experience LatamWith Torq, Evertec, Sinqia | AI startups selling into corporate functions in Latin America | — | — | — | — |
Track record
What Darwin Startups reports about its portfolio.
All figures self-reported — darwinstartups.com, as of Oct 2026.
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at Darwin Startups, separate from the funding calls above.
Batch #15 acceleration programme
AcceleratorInvestment-track accelerator for early-stage startups. Applications closed on 25 September 2026.
Best for: Early-stage startups with a full-time founder
- 12 weeks, from January 2027
- Takes equity
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Darwin's investment-track accelerator for early-stage startups. Applications for Batch #15 closed on 25 September 2026, and the 12-week acceleration is scheduled to start in January 2027.
What you get
- An investment in exchange for a stake of 2% in the company, through a convertible loan at the start of the programme, with access to Darwin Perks.
- Individual follow-up, a personalised acceleration plan, and mentors and specialists matched to your challenges.
- Introductions to founders in the Darwin portfolio, and psychological support for founders.
- Perks, credits and tools from programme partners.
Who can apply
- Early-stage startups with at least one founder working full-time on the business. A solo founder can apply.
How selection works: a form, then an interview with the Darwin team, then an in-person Darwin Day evaluation at a venue to be announced, then a four-week Seleção Natural immersion. The site gives two different counts for this stage: up to five startups approved for the acceleration, and up to 10 moving into the immersion.
How to apply: applications are closed. The site offers pre-registration for Batch #16.
Darwin Scale
ProgrammePaid, fully online 14-week programme on people, leadership and culture for startups with a structured team that are growing fast.
Best for: Structured, fast-growing startups
- Growth
- 14 weeks
- Online
- Paid
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
A practical programme for founders and leaders who want to turn people and culture into a competitive advantage. It runs for 14 weeks, fully online, with group workshops, design sprints and individual mentoring.
What you get
- Workshops on the methodology, with practical application in your startup.
- Design sprints for people processes and tools.
- Individual mentoring, with psychological support.
Who can apply
- Startups that already have a structured team and are growing fast, with founders willing to take part. The programme says it is not for startups still in idea or validation stage.
How to apply: a sign-up call is open. The page shows no dates. Places are limited to 10 startups in the first intake.
ICM Lab Solana powered by Darwin Startups
AcceleratorAccelerator for capital-markets infrastructure and Web3, run with the Solana Foundation and Superteam Brasil. Stated application window ended on 11 October 2026.
Best for: Startups building capital-markets infrastructure or Web3 products
With Solana Foundation, Superteam Brasil
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
An accelerator for capital-markets infrastructure and Web3 technology, a partnership between the Solana Foundation, Superteam Brasil and Darwin Startups. It aims to select up to 10 startups.
What you get
- Introductions to angel investors and venture funds in Brazil and abroad.
- One-to-one technical mentoring with senior developers and financial-sector experts.
- Support for product development and market validation with corporate customers.
- Perks from partners.
How to apply: the registration window was 14 September to 11 October 2026, according to the page. Check the regulamento linked on the page before applying.
Ginga Afrotech Hub
AcceleratorThree-journey programme with Sebrae for Startups (SP) for startups led by Black entrepreneurs.
Best for: Startups led by Black entrepreneurs
- Idea, Prototype, Growth
With Sebrae for Startups (SP)
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
An initiative of Sebrae for Startups (SP) in partnership with Darwin Startups. It has three journeys: one to structure an idea, one to develop and validate a prototype, and an intensive track for startups ready to grow.
Who can apply
- Startups led by Black entrepreneurs. The page defines eligibility by Brazilian self-declaration.
How selection works: a form, analysis of applications, announcement of selected startups, then the start of the programme.
How to apply: the page shows the three journeys as coming soon in one place and as open in another, so confirm the status with the organiser before applying.
Emma Project by Darwin Startups
AcceleratorFree, equity-free training and acceleration for women-founded startups, with psychological support. The first cohort's applications closed on 10 November 2024.
Best for: Women-founded startups from idea to traction
- 4 weeks
- Free, no equity
With Zoho
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Training and acceleration for women-founded businesses, with psychological support. Participants take part in a group track and an individual acceleration plan, plus a demo day with funds and potential investors.
Who can apply
- Businesses led and created by women, at any stage from validation to traction, in any sector.
How to apply: the first cohort's applications closed on 10 November 2024. Pre-registration for the second cohort is open.
Cubo Cyber
AcceleratorCybersecurity and fraud-prevention programme from Cubo Itaú with Itaú Unibanco sponsorship, operated with Darwin Startups. Applications closed.
Best for: Early-stage cybersecurity and fraud-prevention startups
With Cubo Itaú, Itaú Unibanco
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
A programme that connects early-stage cybersecurity and fraud-prevention startups with Itaú, operated with Darwin Startups.
How selection works: registration and preliminary analysis, a qualification interview for the best fits, then a meeting with Itaú's specialists for the startups with the most synergy.
How to apply: applications are closed.
IA Experience Latam
Accelerator2025 accelerator with Torq and Evertec + Sinqia for AI startups in Latin America. Applications closed.
Best for: AI startups selling into corporate functions in Latin America
With Torq, Evertec, Sinqia
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
A 2025 accelerator run by Darwin Startups with Torq and Evertec + Sinqia, looking for AI startups that improve efficiency in finance, legal, HR, marketing, sales and procurement.
What you get
- Business development with the partner ecosystem.
- Individual acceleration plans and proof-of-concept support with partner mentors.
- Access to Darwin's psychological support team.
How to apply: applications are closed.
How to apply to Darwin Startups
Choosing the right programme
- Early-stage, with a full-time founder: Batch #15 is the investment track. Check its next intake before planning around it.
- Structured, growing team with a people-and-culture problem: Darwin Scale is a paid option.
- Women-led, Black-led or disability-focused teams: separate programmes exist for each, but check their current status first.
How applications work
- Batch #15 applications closed on 25 September 2026. Pre-registration for Batch #16 is open.
- ICM Lab's stated window ended on 11 October 2026.
- Ginga's applications are shown as both open and coming soon.
How selection works
- Batch #15 starts with a form, then an interview with the Darwin team, then an in-person evaluation at a venue to be announced.
- The site gives two counts for this stage: up to five startups approved for the acceleration, and up to 10 moving into a four-week immersion.
What reviewers look for
- A team that knows the problem it is solving.
- Ability to build, test and learn in short cycles.
- Honesty about what is still unknown. The site says it does not expect everything to be resolved.
About Darwin Startups
Darwin Startups is an accelerator and investor based in Florianópolis, Brazil. It was founded in 2015 with support from the team that came out of Fundação CERTI, and it runs acceleration programmes for early-stage startups. Its programmes are aimed at Brazil and Latin America.
What they support
Darwin's flagship track takes early-stage startups, and its Batch #15 page gives priority to early-stage companies, with at least one founder working full-time on the business. Other programmes focus on women founders (the Emma Project), startups led by Black entrepreneurs (Ginga Afrotech Hub), cybersecurity and fraud prevention (Cubo Cyber), AI for corporate functions (IA Experience Latam) and capital markets and Web3 (ICM Lab Solana).
Programmes
Batch #15 is the investment-track accelerator. Its applications closed on 25 September 2026, and the 12-week acceleration is scheduled to begin in January 2027. Darwin Scale is a separate paid, fully online, 14-week programme on people and culture for startups that already have a structured team and are growing fast.
ICM Lab Solana powered by Darwin Startups is run with the Solana Foundation and Superteam Brasil. It aims to select up to 10 startups in capital-markets infrastructure and Web3, and its stated application window ended on 11 October 2026. Ginga Afrotech Hub is a three-journey programme run with Sebrae for Startups in São Paulo state.
Past programmes include the Emma Project, a free, equity-free programme for women-founded startups whose first cohort closed applications on 10 November 2024, Cubo Cyber with Itaú, and IA Experience Latam, which ran in 2025. The site also lists earlier partner accelerators, among them Acelera Hub with Hub Salvador and Banco do Nordeste, Retail Scale, and HARDS, a hardware accelerator created in 2015.
Facilities and support
Accelerated startups get individual follow-up with the Darwin team, a personalised acceleration plan, mentors and specialists matched to their challenges, introductions to founders in the Darwin portfolio, psychological support for founders, and access to perks, credits and tools from programme partners.
Track record
The site reports 14 acceleration batches with investment, 100 startups invested in its portfolio, 11 exits and more than 30 programmes run in Brazil and Latin America. Its services copy also says its specialists have helped more than 1,000 startups validate their product and market, raise capital and grow sales. These are two different counts, and both are self-reported.
The Ginga Afrotech Hub page reports 535 startups supported and a 75% revenue increase among 2023 Ginga Imerso participants, also self-reported. Darwin's about page says the ABStartups Startup Awards named it the best accelerator in Brazil for four consecutive years, from 2018 to 2021.
How to apply
Batch #15 applications are closed, and the site invites pre-registration for Batch #16. Darwin Scale has a sign-up call with no dates on the page. Ginga's applications are shown both as open and as coming soon, so confirm with the organiser before applying. Questions can go through the contact page on the Darwin site.
Get in touch
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Frequently asked questions about Darwin Startups
What is Darwin Startups?
Darwin Startups is an accelerator based in Florianopolis.
What does Darwin Startups do?
Darwin Startups is an accelerator and investor based in Florianópolis, Brazil. It was founded in 2015 with support from the team that came out of Fundação CERTI, and it runs acceleration programmes for early-stage startups. Its programmes are aimed at Brazil and Latin America.
Where is Darwin Startups located?
Darwin Startups is located at SC-401, Km 04, s/n, Saco Grande, Florianópolis/SC, Brazil.
What programs does Darwin Startups run?
Darwin Startups runs Batch #15 acceleration programme, Darwin Scale, ICM Lab Solana powered by Darwin Startups and Ginga Afrotech Hub, among others.
Which Darwin Startups programme should I apply to?
It depends on how far along your startup is. Idea stage: Ginga Afrotech Hub. Prototype stage: Ginga Afrotech Hub. Growth stage: Darwin Scale and Ginga Afrotech Hub. Check the programme's own eligibility before applying — several programmes are sector-specific.
Do Darwin Startups programmes charge a fee?
Most do not. Emma Project by Darwin Startups is free to join, while Darwin Scale charges a fee.
Does Darwin Startups take equity?
It depends on the programme. Emma Project by Darwin Startups take no equity, while Batch #15 acceleration programme takes equity.
How do I apply to Darwin Startups?
- Early-stage, with a full-time founder: Batch 15 is the investment track. Check its next intake before planning around it. - Structured, growing team with a people-and-culture problem: Darwin Scale is a paid option. - Women-led, Black-led or disability-focused teams: separate programmes exist for each, but check their current status first. - Batch 15 applications closed on 25 September 2026.
When was Darwin Startups founded?
Darwin Startups was founded in 2015. It is an accelerator.
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